COUPLING DEVICE AND METHODS OF COUPLING

摘要

Coupling devices (10) are provided having a housing (12) comprised of first (14) and second (16) housing parts together forming an interior cavity (20) which houses a rotatable coupler (22), preferably comprised of first (24) and second (26) coupler segments. Each housing part includes one or more concave cavity wall portion(s) (44) which are adapted to slip fit engage with one or more convex outer surface wall portion(s) (48) of the coupler segments (24, 26) for rotatably retaining the coupler (22) within the housing cavity (20). The housing parts (14, 16) and coupler segments (24, 26) are mated along their respective mating/parting lines (50, 56) which have substantially the same configuration as the housing parts and coupler segments. The housing parts (14, 16) are uncoupled and partible when the coupler (22) is in a first position wherein the mating/parting lines (50, 56) positionally substantially correspond and the housing parts (14, 16) are coupled when the coupler (22) is in a second position wherein the mating/parting lines (50, 56) do not positionally substantially correspond. Preferably, the housing cavity (20) is spherical and the coupler (22) is spherical and comprised of substantially identical segments (24, 26). The coupler (22) can rotate about one or more fixed or multiple axes by mechanical, electromagnetic, or other suitable manners.